A few months ago, the wonderful Sanae Ishida sent me a copy of her newest book, Sewing Happiness. I had been looking forward to the publication of this book for such a long time, because I knew that it could only be great. However, I could have never imagined that a sewing book could be this brilliant.
Sewing Happiness is not just a great sewing book; it is so much more. The book – subtitled A Year of Simple Projects for Living Well – is divided in four chapters (Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring). Each chapter starts with around five pages in which Sanae describes how sewing helped her get through her a very difficult period in her life, through taking more care of her physical health, but also finding her mental health again through sewing. In her own words:
“… And then, I got fired. (…) In over twenty-five years, I’d held jobs in vastly wide-ranging fields and industries, and believed that my singular strength was in being an excellent worker. Getting fired was unthinkable! I sputtered. I cried. And then I left, fully ashamed. It would take over a year for me to understand it, but it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.”
It may sound surprising coming from a sewing addict like me, but the essays are actually my favorite part of the book. Sanae writes so beautifully, and with so much humor about her transformation, that I couldn’t stop reading once I had started.
That being said, I was also completely overwhelmed by the sections with the sewing projects. The projects are very quick and simple (the two I made each took me less than an hour), and they are presented in such a beautiful way. Soft colors, natural materials, and beautiful photography and styling. I can’t think of a single sewing book that is more aesthetic, and more inspiring than Sanae’s book. If you’d like to take a look at the inside of the book, make sure to check the many pictures Heather took.
I picked two projects from Sewing Happiness. I made an everything bucket to cover up an ugly flower pot…
… and one origami pillows. I love the sophisticated look of this super simple project.
In most sewing books, I find around 2 projects which I would like to make. In this sewing book, it was hard to find 2 that I wouldn’t want to make. I’ll be using this book many times again.
Thank you so much, Sanae, for writing my all time favorite sewing book, and for letting me be part of the blog tour.
Fabrics used:
– mint pillow cover: Kona Cotton
– mustard lining everything bucket: Cloud 9 Cirrus Solids
– blush pillow: I Got Stripes, bought at Bellelien (on sale now!)
The give-away: book + voucher!
Generous as Sanae is, she’s letting me give away a signed copy of Sewing Happiness to one of you! On top of that, Lara from the fabric shop 1000 Stoff is throwing in a €45 gift voucher.
All you have to do to win is leave a comment below, in which you tell us what it is about sewing that makes you happy. The winner will be picked by Random Generator. Good luck!
Make sure to also visit the other participants of the blog tour:
January 24 – An of StraightGrain // Instagram
January 25 – Trine of Groovy Baby and Mama // Instagram
January 26 – Shelley of Bartacks and Singletrack // Instagram
January 30 – Annika of Näh Connection // Instagram
January 31 – Olu of Needle and Ted // Instagram
February 1 – Emi of Just Add Fabric // Instagram
February 2 – Eva of With Love – by Eva // Instagram